The fatal crash was reported at approximately 2:26 a.m. on southbound Interstate 5 just north of the West Stuhr Road off-ramp.
Newman, CA – Two people were killed in a two-vehicle collision involving a semi-truck early Monday morning on Interstate 5 near Newman, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The deadly collision was reported at approximately 2:26 a.m. on southbound Interstate 5 just north of the West Stuhr Road off-ramp.
CHP logs indicate the incident involved a 2006 Dodge van, operated by a 19-year-old man, and a 2001 Kenworth tractor-trailer, operated by Pardeep Marahar, 35, of Mercer. According to the CHP, traffic was already backed up in the area following a separate crash that occurred earlier.
As per the CHP, the Dodge van failed to slow down and crashed into the rear of the semi-truck, which was stopped at the road closure.
The driver of the van nd his male passenger suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger was in the right front seat at the time of the crash. Both victims, whose names have not been released, were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Marahar was not hurt in the incident.
The crash prompted the closure of the No. 2 lane near the scene while emergency personnel worked the incident. All lanes were reopened by approximately 5:09 a.m.
The cause of the collision remains under investigation. No additional details regarding the circumstances leading up to the crash have been released.